10 best travel destinations of 2017

We love hearing what you think about travel, from which destinations are your absolute favourites to visit, to which airlines you are choosing to get there and what you’re doing when you are on the ground. So, we have diligently worked our way through thousands of surveys to come up with your ultimate Readers’ Choice list for 2017. And the winners are…

1. Best country in the world: USA

Why you love it so… When it comes to the USA, there’s actually not many bits of it that you don’t love, from the compelling, frenetic cities to the wide open spaces and from the historical sights to the shopping!

The sheer diversity of the landscape and what’s on offer there were the things you mentioned time and time again (“Each state is completely different and no two places are the same"), with wildlife, skiing, driving, nightlife, and the breathtaking scenery just some of the choices you were in thrall over.

Runners up: 2. Italy 3. New Zealand 4. France 5. Canada 6. Japan 7. Mexico 8. Thailand 9. Spain 10. England

2. Favourite city in the world: New York

Why you love it so… Seriously, do we really need to explain this one?

New York, according to most of your comments, is the capital of the world, a city that holds endless appeal for travellers with its roster of things to see and do on a 24/7 cycle.

The city offers up world renowned sights and museums, bustling neighbourhoods, and a constant thrum of activity and excitement like no other on Earth.

Runners up: 2. Paris 3. London 4. Rome 5. Barcelona

3. Best beach escape: Fiji

Why you love its so… This Pacific island is the ultimate triple threat: an island paradise with pristine beaches, world-standard resorts and a welcoming and gracious people.

In fact, the warmth of the Fijians was a recurring theme, and this combined with the sun, sand and sea – and the next-to-no-time journey to get there – made Fiji the winner by a long stretch.

Runners up: 2. Hawai‘i 3. Thailand 4. Bali 5. The Maldives – Honourable mention goes to the Cook Islands and the ever-exotic, and increasingly popular Zanzibar.

4. Best food and wine destination: Italy

Why you love it so… The old rivalry between Italy and France was alive and well in this year’s voting, but Italy has come out in front, and by a fair distance.

While some of you pinpointed certain regions or cities for special mention – Florence, Tuscany, Piedmont – the resounding result was that anywhere in Italy will do when it comes to indulging in the best food and wine in the world.

In fact, no other answer in the survey came with so many exclamation marks attached, so you obviously really love the place. Really!!

Runners up: 2. France 3. Spain 4. New Zealand 5. Singapore and Greece.

5. Best skiing destination: Japan

Why you love it so… According to your answers, “powder, powder, powder," is one of the main reasons Japan was absolutely streaks ahead in this year’s skiing results, but you were almost equally in rapture over the culture and the food as well.

All of these elements, plus the fast and easy access, add up to a totally unique and increasingly popular choice.

Runners up: 2. New Zealand 3. Canada 4. USA (made up of Vail, Aspen, California, Jackson Hole, Park City) 5. Switzerland

6. Best eco holiday: New Zealand

1. New Zealand
2. Africa including safaris, Kruger National Park and the Okavango Delta
3. Costa Rica
4. Borneo
5. The Amazon
Honourable mention goes to the Galápagos Islands.

7. Your favourite stop-over: Singapore

Why you love it so… What’s not to love about Singapore as a stop-over?

You can break your journey on the way to somewhere fabulous and fascinating by whiling away a few days in somewhere equally fabulous and fascinating, eating amazing food, doing some serious shopping and relaxing in any number of luxe hotels.

The city state presents like a holiday before your holiday, and you love the idea of that.

Runners up: 2. Dubai 3. Hong Kong 4. London 5. Bangkok

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8. Best off the beaten track adventure: New Zealand

Why you love it so… No trip to New Zealand is complete without some hair-raising adventures, and we’re not just talking about the edge-of-the-mountain drives.

From helicoptering to a glacier and picking your way through the ice, to mountain biking, bungee jumping and white water rafting in Queenstown, to the endless rugged walks, there’s something for every thrill-seeker here.

Runners up: 2. Peru 3. Nepal 4. Vietnam 5. Africa 6. Iceland 7. Antarctica 8. The Philippines 9. Myanmar 10. Mongolia – Honourable mention goes to the Galápagos Islands, Samoa, Bhutan, Patagonia, Borneo, Laos and Madagascar.

9. Best family holiday: USA

Why you love it so… With the states of Hawai‘i, California, Florida and, of course, the Disney parks contributing a big chunk of votes, the USA came out on top when it comes to families thanks largely to its ability to offer a something-for-everyone experience.

You also loved that it is safe and it’s easy to get from A to B, making it easy to see more (and there’s plenty more to see according to you).

Runners up: 2. Fiji 3. Bali 4. New Zealand 5. Japan

10. Your favourite cruise destination: Pacific Islands

1. Pacific Islands (Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Et Al)
2. the Caribbean
3. Alaska (the Inside Passage)
4. the Mediterranean
5. New Zealand

MORE… See all the winners in our 2017 Readers’ Choice

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.